5 ways to be productive ‘On The Bench'

It is important for ‘benched’ employees to be active and demonstrate that even though they are not currently on a project, they are using their time productively.

Employees of product and technology companies can find themselves in between projects, a phase referred to as being ‘on the bench’. It is important for ‘benched’ employees to be active and demonstrate that even though they are not currently on a project, they are using their time productively. ET’s Brinda Dasgupta brings you suggestions from experts on how to do this.

1) Stay updated It is important for employees to stay on top of new trends and technologies through constant reskilling and training. “Make use of the company’s training opportunities through online sessions and courses, enablement videos and knowledge sharing,” says Richard Lobo, head of HR at Infosys..

2) Find opportunities Speak to people within the office to find out about internal projects, says Swapnil Kamat, CEO of Work Better Training. “Technology companies always have some or the other internal apps or projects that are being developed. Getting looped into that not only helps the benched employee remain productive, but to also learn,” he says.

3) Contribute actively Many organisations have specific initiatives to engage benched employees, in the process maximising the potential of talent that is currently trained and in between projects or on the bench. “Employees can actively contribute towards organisational goals by using opportunities for short duration projects,” says Lobo.

4) Think different Being on the bench can give you a lot of time to explore things. “One may look for systems that aren’t working to their utmost capacity, and devise solutions to improve those,” says Kamat. Don’t be afraid to explore new avenues or skills that you think will stand you in good stead.

5) Seek co support “Many companies have training plans and schedules in place that let employees select, plan and undertake trainings and certifications relevant to their fields. This is a continual process and is encouraged. Trainings also help to identify and nurture leaders within the company,” says Sriram Vaidhyanathan, chief HR officer, BankBazaar.